On Feb. 14, Jilda and I celebrate our 43rd Valentine’s Day as a married couple. There were also several years before we tied the knot, but suffice it to say we’ve eaten a few boxes of chocolates together.

In the early years, I was broker than the Ten Commandments, so I had to be creative on Valentine’s Day. It was hard to go wrong with cards and candy so opting for those choices was natural for me.

One of the most memorable experiences was our first Valentine’s Day in 1969. We went to Vulcan Park in Birmingham. Jilda wore a fitted dress so short it would have made Kim Kardashian blush. I loved that dress. Her hair in those days fell in loose curls down her back. Vulcan was a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. Before the city updated the monument, the Ironman stood on a pedestal on the edge of Red Mountain.

An observation deck overlooking the city of Birmingham wrapped around Vulcan’s feet. Getting to the viewing deck required clanking up several flights of narrow stairs. But the windblown view of the city lights from that vantage point was worth all the huffing and puffing it took to get up there.

The deck was usually crowded, but on that Valentine’s Day, Cupid must have been smiling on us. We had the view to ourselves. It was clear and cool that evening. As we stood leaning against the viewing deck rail on top of Red Mountain, the wind whipped Jilda’s hair like a flag. She slid shivering behind me so that I would block the wind. It felt good to be alive, to be there. It’s an experience I will never forget. We stood in silence for a few minutes before heading into the shelter of the stairwell.

Through the years, my gift-giving record was hit and miss. I could write a book on WHAT NOT to buy your significant other on that special day. For example, I learned that an umbrella is an unacceptable gift. One of my friends had some great advice to share. He learned that a membership to a gym, Weight Watchers, or in fact any gift having to do with weight loss is inappropriate for that particular holiday. It was an unfortunate lesson for him. He said he only had to eat TV Dinners for about a month.

Age has made me smarter. I don’t wait until the last minute to buy cards and gifts. Typically, I will ask what she’d like for Valentine’s Day. I’ve gifted visits to the spa, pedicures, a high-dollar dinner at a nice restaurant, and sometimes she gets a gift card to one of her favorite stores. But she prefers a good experience over gifts.

The first Valentine’s Day after hitting the lottery I plan to take Jilda to Paris and dine at Le Meurice. I’ve read that it’s one of the best restaurants in Europe. That would be an experience of a lifetime.

On this Valentine’s Day, this is what I know for sure — Given the choice between things and experiences, opt for the experience. You will often forget the things you get for Valentine’s Day, but you’ll remember a special experience for the rest of your life.
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